In this chapter is contained a large commendation of the church’s beauty by Christ; first, more particularly, by an enumeration of several parts, as her eyes, hair, teeth, lips, temples, neck, and breasts, Song 4:1–5; and more generally, Song 4:7; And having observed where he himself was determined…

Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair The same as in ; here repeated by Christ, to introduce the following commendation; to express the greatness of his love to his church; and show that he had the same opinion of her, and esteem for her, notwithstanding what had passed between that…

Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep That is, like the teeth of a flock of sheep; as her eyes were like the eyes of doves, and her hair like the hair of goats: and Galen long ago observed, that human teeth are much like the teeth of sheep, in figure, order, and structure, as well as are small and…

Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet To a “thread” for thinness, to “scarlet” for colour; thin red lips being beautiful, as well as white teeth; so the beautiful Aspasia had red lips [[1]], and teeth whiter than snow; hence we read of red and purple lips [[2]].

Thy neck is like the tower of David, builded for an armoury, &c.] This was either the strong hold of Zion; or some tower erected by David for an armoury, wherein his worthies or mighty men bring up their shields; Mr.

Thy two breasts are like two young roes that are twins Or, “two fawns, the twins of a doe”: Providence, as Plutarch observes [[14]], has given to women two breasts, that, should they have twins, both might have a fountain of nourishment; and are fitly compared to twins of the doe.

Until the day break, and the shadows flee away Until the day of grace breaks on every elect sinner, and the shadows of darkness, ignorance, and unbelief, are in a great measure fled and gone; or until the everlasting day breaks, and there will be no more night, nor any darkness of affliction, nor…

Thou art all fair, my love Being justified by the righteousness of Christ, washed in his blood, and sanctified by his Spirit; of the title, my “love”, see .

Come with me from Lebanon, my spouse, with me from Lebanon, &c.] This is a new title given the church, my “spouse”; here first mentioned, because the day of espousals was over, ; and having on the wedding garment, in which she was so fair and spotless, as before described, she looked somewhat like…

Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse Here another new title is given to the church, “my sister”, with the repetition of the former, my “spouse”: for one and the same person, with the Hebrews, might be sister and spouse; see .

How fair is thy love, my sister, my spouse! &c.] Of these titles, (See Gill on Song 4:8); (See Gill on Song 4:9); and of the love of the church to Christ, (See Gill on Song 1:3); here said to be “fair”, lovely and delightful, grateful and acceptable; as it is to Christ, in the several acts and…

Thy lips, O my spouse, drop as the honeycomb Words, for sweetness, delight, and pleasure, like that; so the speech of persons, flowing from their mouth and tongue, is said to be sweeter than the honeycomb [[17]]; and lovers are said to be sweeter to one another than the sweet honey [[18]]: so the…

A garden enclosed is my sister, my spouse At a little distance from Bethlehem are pools of water, and below these runs a narrow rocky valley, enclosed on both sides with high mountains which the friars, as Mr.

Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates These plants are the members of the church, true converts, believers in Christ; pleasant plants, plants of renown, planted in the church by Christ’s heavenly Father, and shall never be plucked up; or, thy gardens, as it may be rendered [[12]]; particular…

Spikenard and saffron The former is the best sort of nard, and therefore mentioned and repeated, to which saints may be compared, because of the graces of the Spirit in them; which, when exercised, give a sweet odour, and are exceeding grateful to Christ; see ; and the latter, according to…

A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon. ] Some [[2]] take these words to be the words of Christ continued, speaking still of his church, and explaining and enlarging upon what he had said of her, ; but they are rather the words of the church; who, upon hearing…

Awake, O north wind These words, according to some [[10]], are the words of the church continued, praying for the spirit; to which sense the order and connection of the words seem to incline; though the language suits best with Christ, who has the command of the winds, and a right and property in…